Management of weapons systems aboard modern ships has placed a tremendous demand on the decision making capabilities of shipboard personnel. Despite progress in automating some administrative functions, no system has been developed that totally supports management decision making and planning. The Navy must continue to explore and evaluate ways to reduce this problem. ZOG, a rapid-response, large network menu selection computer interface, offers one approach to systematic storing and retrieving management information. The objective of this project was to evaluate ZOG, a general purpose information management system, as installed aboard a Navy aircraft carrier, the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). During the CARL VINSON deployment, the ZOG system provided management support to the command, administration, communications, operations, weapons, engineering, and PERQ shipboard management divisions. No prior computer training or experience was required for users to successfully interact with the ZOG system. Training to use ZOG was successfully developed and conducted both individually on-line and in small groups. The majority of intended functional applications were developed by the users. The extensibility of the system was demonstrated notably by the development of AIRPLAN, an expert system used to support shipboard aircraft launch and recovery operations. The planning function was greatly supported during the cruise. User attitudes were generally quite positive towards the system. Although there were significant problems attributable to high temperatures, electrical power fluctuations, continuous vibration, and software instability.

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